Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings news, rumors and injuries

Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater added five pounds of muscle during the offseason, although the team set a weight limit for the quarterback to absorb the punishment of the NFL season without sacrificing too much of his mobility.

Fantasy Tip: Bridgewater came on at the end of the season. With the addition of Mike Wallace at wideout, and the return of Adrian Peterson, he'll have way more weapons at his disposal. He opens the season as a QB2 in most fantasy formats, but he could very well end up as a Top 10 option at his position by season's end.

Fantasy Tip: Patterson is clearly behind Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace on the depth chart, and he could be behind Jarius Wright as well. Right now he is only worth a speculative pick in the late rounds of standard fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams.

Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs drew some strong praise from head coach Mike Zimmer following Day 1 of training camp Tuesday, July 28. "This guy's got a chance to be really good," Zimmer said. "He runs great routes, he's got excellent speed. He catches the ball as well as anybody I've seen, very, very easily and he's been a model citizen, so that's important. Pretty special for a young guy," said Zimmer.

Fantasy Tip: Diggs has been learning from the veterans on offense and special teams as he tries to earn his roster spot. It's unlikely Diggs will begin the season with any fantasy value, but he will be worth following through the course of the season.

Minnesota Vikings WR Mike Wallace said he definitely has something to prove this year on his new team. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner said the only thing that matters for Wallace is how he performs when he's on the field, not what he says off it. "If he makes plays, [if] he does the things we want him to do, [if] he works hard in practice, [if] he sets an example in his actions in terms of the way he approaches preparation, then that's leadership," Turner said. "What guys say is very meaningless to me. It's obviously what they do."

Fantasy Tip: Wallace was a distraction for the Miami Dolphins last year, so he does need to prove that he won't cause the same distractions for the Vikings this year. He is currently the fourth-highest paid wide receiver in the league, although the statistics aren't there to back that up. Wallace is due for a show-me season, but he should be viewed as a WR3 to be on the safe side.

Fantasy Tip: Peterson has already said he wants to reach 2,500 rushing yards. While that's not likely, he'll still return to the featured back he was before last year. He should comfortably be taken as a top running back in fantasy drafts.

Minnesota Vikings WR Jarius Wright said he's prepared to see more time in the slot this year. "I've been outside a lot with the Vikings," Wright said, "but I can definitely transfer over and play the slot." Head coach Mike Zimmer said Wright has already shown he can succeed there. "The best things that Jarius did were when he was in the slot," Zimmer said. "We keep working him outside but we know he has big value for us in the slot, as well."

Fantasy Tip: Wright may provide the Vikings with a lot of value in the slot, but he won't give fantasy owners much value. He could still be the fourth receiving option for Minnesota behind WRs Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace and TE Kyle Rudolph. He's a good addition for depth, but shouldn't be drafted as a starter.

Minnesota Vikings WR Mike Wallace was added for his speed and experience, but he comes to training camp looking to do more than that. "I've got to take some things from Miami that I don't think I did as well and just try to bring it here and be a better person and a better player. Just lead more," Wallace said Monday, July 27.

Fantasy Tip: Wallace has struggled over the past two seasons, posting a total of 21 receptions for 20-plus yards despite his tremendous speed. He is worth a look as a WR2/3 or flex fantasy option in leagues of 12 or more teams.

The Minnesota Vikings plan to give RB Adrian Peterson a heavy workload heading into the season. "As much as he can take, and as much as he can handle in all the things that we're doing," head coach Mike Zimmer said Monday, July 27. "Obviously, we're going to have to spell him at times like you do a lot of guys. But we get down on the goal line, and we're probably not pulling him out, you know? He's our best player, and we're going to continue to use him."

Fantasy Tip: The Vikings apparently will be riding Peterson hard, and that's great news for fantasy owners. The part about the goal-line touches is especially important, as Peterson appears to be in line for those rushes, too, after Matt Asiata was so good in the role last season. Asiata and Jerick McKinnon are still good players for depth on a fantasy roster if you nab Peterson in the first round.

Minnesota Vikings RB Matt Asiata was a fantastic contributor in goal-line situations, but head coach Mike Zimmer indicated Monday, July 27, that RB Adrian Peterson will be leaned upon in the situations this season. "Obviously, we're going to have to spell (Peterson) at times like you do a lot of guys. But we get down on the goal line, and we're probably not pulling him out, you know?," Zimmer said.

Fantasy Tip: Asiata had some fantasy appeal, especially in TD-only leagues, last season. However, with the return of Peterson, and the presence of Jerick McKinnon, it's unlikely Asiata gets very many touches unless long-term injuries strike in the Minnesota backfield.

Minnesota Vikings WR Cordarrelle Patterson showed improved in organized team activities (OTAs), according to head coach Mike Zimmer, but the receiver has had consistency issues on the practice field which is holding him back. "He'll have really good days, and then he'll have some not-so-good days. Really, I think what he needs to do is just the consistency every single day and the consistency in studying, the consistency in getting extra help that he needs if he needs it, running the routes the same all the time and understanding that there's a lot of great athletes that don't make it in professional sports because they don't have the other intangibles," Zimmer said.

Fantasy Tip: The Vikings have plenty of depth at receiver following the addition of Mike Wallace, as well as the emergence of Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright. So the team can afford to be patient. But fantasy owners likely won't want to take a chance on him until the very final rounds on draft day, because the potential is still there. Physically, he can be so good. Mentally, he still has a lot of work to do.

Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater is expected to continue to improve, according to head coach Mike Zimmer, who doesn't agree with the opinion of anonymous personnel guys for other teams who are expecting a step back in Year 2. "I know this kid is a great competitor. The things that he did great in college (and) he did great in the NFL (last) year, were two-minute situations, when the competitive things were there. That's not going to change," Zimmer said Monday, July 27.

Fantasy Tip: Bridgewater really showed progress in the second half of the season, and the addition of Mike Wallace on the outside, as well as the presence of Adrian Peterson in the backfield, will really open the field up for Bridgewater. He might not quite be a QB1 in standard fantasy formats initially, but by season's end he could have the tools to be a Top 10 fantasy option at his position.

Fantasy Tip: Peterson's feud with the Vikings seems to be long gone. He's itching and ready to play football again. As long as Peterson stays healthy and avoids any more off-field issues, he should end up as a high-end RB1 again. Feel free to take him if you have an early first-round pick.

Fantasy Tip: That's all well and good, but 2,500 total yards will be hard for any running back to attain, much less 2,500 rushing yards alone. This goal does prove Peterson's determination, however. He's set on playing football. A determined Adrian Peterson is a dangerous Adrian Peterson. He's a candidate for the No. 1 running back this year.

Minnesota Vikings LB Anthony Barr (knee) will be limited to start training camp as he needs to work on his conditioning after missing much of the spring. "He feels much better," head coach Mike Zimmer said. "He's had a really good last two weeks. He's not in the best physical condition right now."